Editorial

September 9-10 the 23rd congress of the European Association of Hospital Directors took place in Zurich. Many thanks to everyone who attended! We would particularly like to thank our colleagues from Switzerland for the organisation of the congress. It was a highlight in our programme of European cooperation.The Executive Committee, Board and General Assembly of the EAHM also met in Zurich. The General...

News

The 40th Ordinary General Assembly of EAHM took place in Zurich before the official opening ceremony of the 23rd EAHM Congress: Roadmap to Top Quality. The General Assembly focused mainly on two topics: The President's activity report for 2009-2010, including the results of the reflection group on the future and evolution of EAHM, and the election of the President, Vice-President and the Executive...

Introduced by Heinz Kölking, Ervin Kövesi was unable to accept his Honorary Membership in person. Kovesi completed his education as an economist and has worked in healthcare ever since. Roles have included Administration Director and later President of the Medical University Debrecen/Hungary. Mr. Kövesi was also acting Director of the Institute of the Hungarian Department of Health. He has also been...

Mr. Heinz Kölking, the new President of EAHM took some time to speak to (E)Hospital during the congress in Zurich. He talked about his objectives for the four upcoming years, highlighting that the association must work together to overcome the challenges facing our hospitals today.(E)Hospital: First of all, congratulations, you have been Vice-President for 4 years and now you are President of EAHM....

Tackling Climate Change for HealthEurope's public health services would reap major benefits from
an ambitious policy to tackle climate change, according to a new report by two
health and environmental non-governmental organisations.
As European governments prepare to draw up their negotiating
stance for the next round of global climate change talks in Cancun in December,
the Health and Environment...

Roadmap to Top Quality

The 23rd EAHM Congress in Zurich was officially opened by Mr. Rolf Gilgen, President of the Swiss Association of Hospital Managers. Artemis Trio, a three-piece band played the Swiss national anthem as a procession of two men and two women made their way through the convention hall symbolically carrying the Swiss and EAHM flags.Mr. Gilgen welcomed participants to the first EAHM congress to be held...

Mr. Denham began by addressing what was on everyone's mind- why is an American delivering the keynote speech at a European congress!? Moreover, what can we learn from the US- a country with possibly the lowest quality of care and the most expensive of the industrialised nations? Mr. Denham believes that healthcare reform and quality are not only national, but global perspectives.His objective was to...

Anthony Staines focused on three aspects of quality: concept, implementation and communication. He stressed that there is a discrepancy between the quality demonstrated by research to be achievable and the quality actually attained.Starting with the history of the concept of quality, Staines explained how the concept evolved. Before the industrial revolution products were made by hand, by an individual,...

Patients hear little about the quality of services in hospitals. Their opinions and expectations are formed through discussions in social settings or their GP or healthcare provider act as a guide. The media also plays a role in forming opinions, often raising fears. But patients' expectations can be met by providing transparency with regard to quality in hospitals.Ms. Ziltener explained that she is...

It is widely accepted that 30- 50% of medical errors could be avoided. Conen believes that risk in our hospitals is poorly defined; it is uncertainly expressed in empirical fact in numbers. Patients need to weigh the benefits with the risk of harm; those who understand this situation have a better forecast.Conen took the example of a patient whose potassium levels were at the upper limit. The doctor...

Quality of care remains the most important aspect for every patient as well as the first selling proposition of every hospital. A great principle, but extremely difficult in practice. Of great help is the fact that there is a strong correlation between the quality of care and safety, cost-effectiveness and the satisfaction of both consumers/ patients and workers.Mr. Berden examined the question of...

Dr. Cerniauskas' presentation focused on how both economics and politics are important in regards to quality of healthcare. Although healthcare professionals, politicians and economists may not see eye-to-eye they are all implicated in the quality of care.While quality of healthcare and quality related issues have, for a long time, been almost exclusively in the domain of medical professionals, politicians...

In Enhancing Quality of Care Through Integrated Care Pathways (Between a Leading Hospital in Ireland and the Community it Serves)Conor Hannaway believes that integrated health services are an efficient, effective, patient-centred strategy best suited to the challenges hospitals are facing in Ireland. Integrated healthcare systems can improve hospital systems and also quality of care for patients.In...

Various partners in the health system are increasingly turning to indicators to reveal the quality of the care given. The path of 'outcome measurement' is however, strewn with pitfalls, and it is essential to be aware of these in order to interpret and use such data. Prof. Troillet illustrated this through the example of a Swiss multi-centric programme for monitoring surgical site infections.Prof....

In the last three decades the incidence of cancer in Denmark has been among the highest in the OECD countries. At the same time the outcomes of cancer treatment rank among the poorest. Since the turn of the century, this picture has changed completely as a result of the national Cancer Plan I and Cancer Plan II, adopted in 2001 and 2006 respectively. One important tool in this process is the universal...

According to Mr. Gausmann clinical risk management has been around since the 1990s. For around five years, the clinical risk management system has been receiving a stimulus from patients themselves, which is having a long-term effect. Preventative measures in particular are aimed at increasing patient safety. Indeed, there are many global processes and programmes for recommendations for patient sa...

Mr. Gravenhorst highlighted the current challenges in the healthcare industry: economic and political climate; increased public sector focus; and demographic development. These challenges have led to certain macro economic developments. Financial constraints include declining reimbursements, increased costs and a change of workforce and demand. Service levels have been impacted due to rising demands,...

"Caring for the world, one person at a time" is how Steinmann described Johnson & Johnson. In today's healthcare environment, the focus on quality, trust and safety has never been greater and more important. Steinmann believes that it is this focus and the commitment to the medical community and patients, which ignites new innovation, continuing education and better approaches to delivering products...

Ms. Gryszowka, from John Paul II Hospital in Krakow, spoke from the fundraiser's point of view. The hospital admits over 22,000 patients annually, performs about 87,000 imaging examinations, functional tests and endoscopies annually using digital technology, and performs about 1,000,000 laboratory tests annually. But how is all this financed?Well, John Paul II Hospital in Krakow is a leader in Malopolska...

The focus of Dr. Heinisch's presentation was on how investments in quality can also lead to improvements in efficiency. During his presentation he used the example of the hospital partnership between the Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy and the Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Linz, through which quality and efficiency improved.Heinisch believes that there are two aspects of quality in Austrian...

A hall of hospital managers taking advice from Porsche- seems a little hard to believe but Dirk Pfitzer had some interesting comparisons and lessons to transmit. Indeed, many managers are discussing ways in which lean processes can be implemented and sustained in the long-term, taking the automobile industry as a model. Lean processes mean avoiding waste and increasing efficiency for the benefit of...

Dr. Franca explained that the Portuguese National Health Plan (2004-2010) was criticised by WHO in an evaluation in February 2010. They concluded that, "The Plan does not focus sufficiently on the quality and safety of health care services. The monitoring of health care outcomes, medical processes, medical errors and safety in health care services, as well as safety at the workplace, has not been a...

Matrix

The European Union has a working age population in excess of 170 million. Almost one in six people have a longstanding health problem that affects their daily lives - their ability to take part in the labour market. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for a large proportion of the working days lost each year.The UK-based Work Foundation published in Brussels exactly a year ago the Fit for Work...

Medtech

Technology evaluation is considered a must in today's healthcare systems, especially when a significant monetary investment is required. Such evaluations must be multi-dimensional in their approach and can take place before installation or be used as a follow-up verification. Managers can verify if statements, data and stakeholders introduced during the acquisition process are real or need to be redefined....

Interview

Luxembourg, with a population of 502, 000 (Eurostat, 2010 estimate) has one of the best state-funded healthcare systems in Europe. The system is based on three fundamental principles: compulsory health insurance, free choice of provider for patients and compulsory provider compliance with the fixed set of fees for services.The health service, overseen by Luxembourg's Union of Sickness Funds, ensures...

L'Entente des Hôpitaux Luxembourgeois (EHL) groups together the hospital institutions of the Grand-Duché of Luxembourg. According to the clauses of article two of the statutes, the association has the objective of grouping together the hospital institutions of Luxembourg, the defence of their professional interests and the realisation of all forms of progress within the hospital sector, especially...